Hun Sen to Transfer Cambodian Premiership to His Son After 38 Years

Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, announced on Wednesday, July 25, that he will step down from his position next month and transfer the premiership to his eldest son, 45-year-old Hun Manet. According to Reuters, this announcement came after the 'Cambodian People's Party,' led by Hun Sen, won the elections last Sunday. Western countries and human rights organizations have labeled these elections as neither free nor fair, especially since the main opposition in Cambodia was barred from participating in the electoral competition. Hun Sen's son, who recently secured a parliamentary seat for the first time, is the commander of the Cambodian army. Hun Manet is educated in the West. It is expected that following the start of his term, many ministries will be held by a number of young lawmakers, including Hun Sen's younger son. Ou Virak, the head of the Future Forum think tank in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, told Reuters that he believes Hun Manet's term could bring changes to the country's leadership style. Over his 38 years in power, Hun Sen has solidified his power base while implementing a market-based economy in Cambodia. This policy has improved the living conditions of many Cambodians, but the gap between the rich and poor has deepened, forests have severely declined, and his allies and foreign investors have seized large areas of the country's land. It is expected that despite stepping down from the premiership, Hun Sen will maintain his influence in Cambodian politics by retaining his position as party leader and president of the Senate. He rose to power after the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia and the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime.